Apparatus for building pneumatic tires for automobiles.



E. HOPKINSON.

APPARATUS FOR BUILDING PNEUMATIC TIRES FOR AUTGNIOBILES. APPLlcATIoN FILED OCT. 16. 191B.

Patented De0.31,1918.

nns'r Hopkinson', or new Yoan, n. Y.

PTUS FOB BUILDING PNEUMATIC TIRES FOR AUTOMOBILES.

meente.

Continuation of application Serial No. 145,591, filed January 31, 191'?. This application led october le,

peciication of Letters Patent.

Patented Dec. 31, 1918.

1918. Serial No. 258,439.

the following' is a full, clear, and exact description.

r1`his invention relates to apparatus for building tires, more particularly, apparatus" for imparting the desired shape to the assembled components of a tire casing, and is a continuation of my former application filed January 31, 1917, Serial No. 145,591;V`

' rlhe object of this .invention is to provide an apparatus capable of imparting substantially circularv cross-sectionalvshape to the built-up components of a tire, previously assembled in the form of a pulley band.

For a clearer understanding of my invention, reference is made to the following description and the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure 1 is a view partly in side elevation and partly in section illustrating my apparatus;

Fig. 2 isv a view partly in section and partly in perspective showing the retaining ringof my apparatus in unlocked postion; and

Fig. Bis a similar view showing the same in locked position.

Referring to the drawings,the framework of the machine consists of uprights 1 and a cross-piece 2. Extending from the crosspiece to the base and mounted in suitable thrust bearings 31l are two threaded rods 3, each of which has secured to it a bevel-gear 1 meshing with a bevel-gear 5 on the shafts 6, each of which shafts carries a bevel-gear 7, driven by bevel-gear 8 which is connected by any suitable means to a source of power. Centrally located between tthe uprights 1 is a drum or cylinder 9 on which rests a sec# ond drum in the form of a removable ring 10, which in turn supports a removable ring 11. The Aabutting edges of the drums 9, 10

and 11 are stepped or otherwise adapted to ing a vertical axis, and sections which maintam their relation without other retaining means than their own weight. The middle drum or ring 10 is provided with a central circumferential channel 12 in which is seated an eXpansible tube 13 having an inilating valve 14. 0n either side of the ring 10 and equally distant from its central line is provided a forcing ring 15 supported by arms 16 havingathreaded engagement with the rods 3, saldi-.ings being adapted to-be uniformly moved toward and away from each 'other and thechannel l2 by actuating the rods 3. Encircling the cylinder 9 and the ring 11 respectively, are langesl'? adapted to be forced toward each other by the projecting outer edges 15a of the rings 15 ontothe drum or ring 10 where they are locked against outward movement 'by the engagement of the retaining rings 18 with the grooves 19. rllhe Hanges 17 are of substantially right-angled cross-sectional shape,one leg of the angle forming an inward extension 17a lying adjacent the surface of the drum, and the other 17b projecting laterally .outward from the drum a suiici'ent distance zto permit its engagement by the overhanging edge 15a of the ring 15, while the retaining or locking ring 18 is carriedalong in the undercut portion thereof.

The oper-ation ,of my device is as follows: The various fibrous, `filamentary, or woven fabric elements of a tire carcass are assembled together with the usual inextensible bead wires or bead cores in the form of a flat pulley band. This assembly is preferably carried out on an expansible drum. Preferably the cushion stock, breaker strip, and tread portions of the tire will be assembled on the carcass while in the flat pulley band form.

Having the tire builtup as above described, the rings 15 of the machine are separated to their positions farthest apart from each other (the position of the upper ring indicated` -in dotted lines, Fig. 1) and the ring 11 is entirely removed. The ring 10 with the tube 13 deflated thereon is left in place resting on the cylinder 9. The lower flange 17 and its locking ring 18- are then placed in position resting upon the lower ring 15. The pulley band carcass or casing, formed as above described, is then placed about the drum as shown in full lines in the drawing, the ring 11 is seated above thering'lO, and nally the upper'lange 17 and locking ring 18 are placed in position.V

-Power is then applied to the gear 8, which causes the rods 3 to turn, moving the forcing rings 15' and the flanges 17 toward each ,other until lthey contact with the edges of tensions 17 a of the flanges 17 underthe edges of the pulley band, forcing them slightly outward from the'surface of the drum, so that there is a clearance betweenV the inner surface of the pulley band casin and the outer surface of the rings. This c earanceis essential in most types of construction.

However, there are instances in whichl it may be preferable to force the edges of the band together by Sliding them along the surface of the drum. A

The further movement of the forcing rings 15 is accomfplished simultaneously with the admission o ilatable tube 13, which forces the central portion of the pulley band radially outward as the forcing rings. 15 mo've the edges of the casing toward each other to circumferential lines on each side of the channel 12 immediately above and below thexlower and upper grooves 1,9 respectively. As pointed out above, the progressive movement of the two lrings 15 is at all times coincident, so

that throu hout the forming operation the edges 'of t e pulley band have been maintained equidistant from the central circumferential line of the channel 12. The central line of the band has therefore been forced l radially outward, thus causing the band to assume a symmetrical cross-sectional shape at all stages of the forming operation.

- In forcing the flanges 17 together, lthe overhangingl ed es115 of the rings 115 have contacted direct againstI the outer faces 17 of the -flanges 1 Consequently, the locking' rings v1,53 are loosely held between the latter parts, and as soon as the flanges 17 clear the grooves 19, they (the rings 18) snap into place therein.

The machine kis then reversed and the forcing rings 15 are separated a slight distance. The internal air pressure forces the edges of the casing a slight distance apart, which pushes back the flanges, 17 into the positions shown in Fig. 3, where they are held against further separation by their-en gagement with the locking rings 18 now compressed air to the in- Y tion,

seated in the grooves 19. The admission of alr into the inflatable tube 13'is continued,

however, untilthe casing is caused to assume a shape in dotted lines in Fig. 1.

The reverse movement of the gear 8 is now continued to further move apart the forcing rings 15 until in their farthest separated positions; when the ring 1'1 is lifted olf the ring 10, which is next removed, carryingwith it the casing and inflated tube locked -in position thereon by interengagement of the flanges 17, rings 18 and grooves' 19. l The tire may now be Iinished according to any preferred method. Incase the'shap-l ing operation has been' applied tothe carapply the cushion stock,'breaker 'strip and tread stock. 'On the other hand, if the latter elements have been built into the flat pulley band, the tire is now ready for vulcanizatiomwhich'may be accomplished by any of the well known methods.

bek continued without waitcass only, it is, of course necessary to next from the machine, and the thus assembled structure put in place thereon as a unit.

Havin' thus described my invention, what I c aim and desire to protect by Letters Patent is 1. A tire building machine, comprismg a drum adapted to support a pulley band of rubber and nfibrous material to be formedinto tire shape, an inatable tube supportedon said drum underneath the pulley band, means for moving the edges of the pulley band toward each other to a redetermlned position, and means for holdmg sa1d edges .in such position.

2. A tire building machine, comprising a drum with a removable central portlon grooved to receive an inflatable tube, side flanges, and means for securing the side ganges on the removable portion of sa1d drum with a removable central port1on, slde a tire of substantially U-shaped, cross-sec` comprising meansfor engaging' thev edges of. said band .while in flat condition and mo'vmg sa1d edges toward each other, in combination with means adapted to force rum. 3. A tire building machine, comprising a onto said central portion of the drum, and

'i eeega'ae the central portion of the tire radially outward while said edge portions are being moved toward each other.

5. A pneumatic tire building machine for converting an annular lat ulley band into a tire of substantially U-s aped crosssec tion, comprising means adapted by positive engagement with the edge portions of said band to bodily move the said edge portions toward each other, in combination with means adapted to force the central portion of the tire radially outward.

6. A tire building machine, comprising means for forcing the edge portions of a tire casing toward each other, means adapted to force the central portion of the tire radially outward while said edge portions are being forced toward each other, and means for securing said edge portions against outward movement.

7. A tire building machine, comprisin a cylinder, flanges encircling said cylin er, means for forcing said flanges toward each other, and means for locking said flanges against outward movement.

8. A tire building machine, comprising a cylinder having a circumferential channel, flanges encircllng said cylinder on either side of said channel, an expansible tube located in said channel, means for moving said flanges toward said channel, and means for expanding said tube.

9. A tire building machine, comprising a cylinder having a circumferential channel, flanges encircling said cylinder on either side of said channel, an expansible tube located in said channel, means for moving said flangesA toward said channel, means for expanding said tube, and means for locking said llanges against outward movement.

10.. A tire building machine, comprising a vertical cylinder, flanges encircling said cylinder, means for forcing said flanges toward each other, and means for locking said flanges against outward movement.

11. A tire building machine, comprising a plurality of superposed rings formin a cylinder, flanges encircling the cylin er, means for forcing said flanges toward each other, and means for locking said flanges on one of said rings.

12. A tire building machine, comprisinga cylinder adapted to support a pulley band of rubber and fibrous material to be formed into tire shape, and means for maintaining the edge portions of said band clear of said cylinder while moving them toward each other.

13. A tire building machine, comprisin a cylinder, flanges encircling said cylin er adapted to force the edges of a tire casing toward each other, said flanges having inwardly projecting extensions adapted to support the edges of the casing clear of said cylinder, and means for moving said flanges toward each other.

Signed at New York, county and State of New York, this, 9th day of October, 1918.

ERNEST HOPKIN SON. 

